Parkridge East Hospital celebrates 50 years in service

HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF)- Parkridge East Hospital is celebrating 50 years serving the Chattanooga area. 

“I like to believe that the folks who originally planned this hospital 50 years, 50 plus years ago, had really no idea how impactful this hospital would be, and continue to be,” said Caroline Burris, CEO of Parkridge. 

Parkridge East Hospital was built in the early 1970s. 

The 128-bed hospital provides a wide range of services that includes orthopedics, robotic surgery, and women services. 

Burris explains why it is important to celebrate 50 years of service.. 

“The services that we have added, over the years, to the hospital to support the community, the various specialties, the various types of doctors that we have here, and then certainly the key service lines that really support this area, in the Greater Chattanooga community overall,” said Burris. 

Over the years, Parkridge East has increased to more than 200 Physicans and more than 300 employees. 

Burris says as apart of the celebration, Parkridge looks to add new upgrades to the hospital. 

“The end of the year, We are going to be opening our expanded women’s unit, which includes new postpartum beds and new space for laboring moms,” said Burris. “We also will be adding our unveiling our upgraded MRI, which includes breast capabilities.”

And Burris is excited that Parkridge will provide more patients with the best healthcare for the next 50 years. 

“It is exciting externally for us to be able to just demonstrate our appreciation for the community for allowing us to take wonderful care of them over the years, and then also great for us to be able to celebrate. Internally, all the wonderful staff that we have that really provide that world class care,” Burris concluded.